How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” Hebrews 2:33How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3). What a startling question this is! Indeed it is a most solemn one too; and yet why is the answer not given to us? Surely there must be a reason for this! Indeed it is because there is NO escape. How can one escape when there is no escape? If anyone continues to neglect the great salvation which God offers, there will be no escape from the awful judgment, that must fall upon him—none whatever.
God has provided a Saviour for sinners in the person of His own Son. He can save the vilest, for there is cleansing power in the precious blood of Christ to put away all the sins of all those who believe. God’s proclamation of pardon says, “By Him all that believe are justified from all things.” Acts 13:3939And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39). And again, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7). But God has no remedy for one who rejects Christ. Nor does He have any remedy for one who continues to neglect Him. Christ is the ONLY remedy—the ONLY way of escape—and to reject or neglect Him is fatal, for God has no other Saviour. In a sense it is worse to neglect God’s great salvation than to reject it. It is to say that you need Christ, but that you will. put off accepting Him until some other time. How solemn!
Felix, of whom we read in Acts 24, was one of this group. He was a neglecter. He heard from the lips of Paul about God’s great salvation. He heard about judgment to come, and as he listened he trembled. He was deeply concerned, hut he hesitated. It might mean suffering and persecution and even death, for he held a high position and was much esteemed no doubt. Of course he did not want to positively reject the opportunity of being saved for probably he intended. to some day, and so he said to Paul, “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” Acts 24:2525And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (Acts 24:25). As far as we know the convenient season never came. He just put it off, and if he died as he lived he will find. out to his eternal sorrow that there is “no escape” from hell. Friend, I repeat it; there is no escape if you neglect so great salvation.
Think what you are doing if you are neglecting God’s great salvation. Consider it well! God loves you and waits to save you. No angel can save you. No man, no matter how great he is can save you. All your good resolutions, good works, or anything your own hands could do can never put away one sin. Not even the perfect sinless LIFE of the blessed Son of God could save us. The cost of redemption was beyond all these. It is so great we cannot measure it. The Lord Jesus must die. He must hear the load of judgment which our sins deserved before one soul could be saved. He could speak the word and worlds were created, but the salvation of your soul and mine was a greater work than creation. God placed the sins of all those who believe upon the holy head of the Lord Jesus in those three hours of darkness and He bore the whole storm. Now He is risen and seated at God’s right hand as the proof that God is satisfied with His finished work.
Oh what a great salvation this is; and it was a great Person who accomplished it at great cost to Himself. The love that offers it to you is great indeed. Have you accepted it? Do not be a Christ-neglecter, we beseech you.
ML 09/24/1950